6. ICT Applications

6.7 School management systems

6.7

Describe how systems are used to manage learner registration and attendance

Describe how systems can be used to record learner performance

Describe how systems can be used for organising examinations, creating timetables and managing teaching cover/substitution

Objective

In this chapter learners will be expected to learn about ICT systems are used in within education establishments. In particular students are expected to know how such systems are in administrative tasks such as setting timetables and registering students.

School Management Systems

School Information Management Systems (SIMS)

SIMS software is used the day-to-day running of a school and can be used a number of purposes. SIM’s software can be used to create:

Store student records

Produce class lists

Register students

Produce student reports

Produce behaviour reports

Construct the school timetable

Manage books being taken from the school library

What are the benefits of SIMS software?

Can produce automatic reporting – attendance can be tracked and the system can automatically generate an email, text message that can be sent to parents

Statistics such as attendance and average exam scores can be generated automatically

Drawbacks of SIMS software:

Can be expensive to purchase

School admin staff may require training

Records needs to be kept up-to-date

School Registration System

Many schools traditionally register student’s attendance at the beginning of the lesson. This often takes time out of the lesson and is prone to mistakes if registers have not been updated if new students arrive.

Some schools currently use Optical Mark Reader sheets to register students in the mornings. The OMR sheets can then be fed directly into a computer using an OMR Reader to track school attendance. But this is also prone to errors and can also be time consuming.

Can the system be improved?

Give every student an ID card with a Magnetic Stripe

When students arrive in the morning they would swipe their cards using a magnetic stripe reader. This would records when they arrive to school in the morning.

Every classroom could also have a magnetic stripe reader in every class so when students arrive to their lessons they would also swipe their cards and register their attendance to every lesson.

This system would more accurately record attendance because it would be possible to better track how long they stayed in school and what lessons students have missed.

With a paper based system it is difficult to track a student if they register in the morning and leave early.

Are there any drawbacks with this system?

Yes, although it is a more efficient than a paper register it is still prone to problems because ID cards can be lost or get damaged. Students could also exploit the system by swiping each other’s cards.

Biometric Data

Can the system be improved?

Yes, we could make use of biometric data.

We could ask students to sign in using a biometric data such as a finger print. When they enter school or a classroom they register by scanning their finger print instead.

What are the benefits of biometric Vs ID CARDS?

Finger prints are unique so students would not be able to register for each other

ID cards can be lost but biometric date (finger prints) are a part of you and can’t be lost

Disadvantages

Take a long time setting up because you would have to scan every students finger print into the system